Information for Parents

Choosing a university is an important and exciting decision – for students and their parents. Parents want their student to learn in a welcoming and supportive environment – and so do we.

As one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities, the University of Victoria value our students first and foremost. After all, they are the driving force behind our success.

To help you navigate information about UVic, we’ve provided some quick links below. If you have additional information, visit www.askuvic.ca or contact us. You can also download our Parent's Guide to UVic, which includes information about everything from support services and facilities to housing and on-campus opportunities.

Introduction to UVic

Established in 1963, UVic is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive universities in Canada, according to the annual Macleans Magazine rankings.

With over 40 program areas, diverse athletic, social and on-campus opportunities, and a
co-operative education program that encourages students to gain real-world experience to complement their academic learning, UVic is home to more than 19,000 students from around the world.

The university is located a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria, BC, and within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. The campus is situated on acres of traditional Coast Salish and Straits Salish land.

Parent Orientation

As a parent, you probably have questions about the university. Many parents take advantage of UVic’s Parent Orientation Program, where UVic staff answer questions about life at UVic. This program runs every September, and is open to parents and guardians of new UVic students. Registration is online.

This program is run through UVic’s Student Transition Centre. Email orient@uvic.ca if you have any questions.

UVic in Your Community

If you have questions about UVic, visit our Events page to see if a Recruiter will be coming to your community. UVic Recruiters travel Canada and the world to put on presentations and answer questions about the university.

Campus Tours

If you plan on visiting Victoria, why not stop by the university for a complimentary Campus Tour? A tour guide will lead you around the campus and answer your questions about university facilities. You can also arrange to meet with an Admissions Officer during your time on campus.

Campus Tours should be booked at least one week in advance. Contact tours@uvic.ca to make a reservation.

Getting to UVic

One of UVic parents’ first concerns is how their student will travel to and from the university, especially if they’re coming from outside Victoria.

UVic is located on Vancouver Island, and there are many accessible ways to reach our campus.

Safety

UVic offers many safety-related initiatives to promote safety on campus, including residence safety programs for students living on campus, and personal safety presentations for students and staff.

Campus Security

Campus Security Services are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and respond immediately to security events on campus. Campus security officers patrol the campus to offer assistance if needed.

The campus has eleven Campus Security direct dial phones – students can call Campus Security immediately without the need of a quarter.

Campus Security also offers the Safewalk program to all members of the university community, who can contact Campus Security and request an escort to safely walk them across campus if they are attending a class at night.

Campus Security has two Personal Safety Coordinators who act as a liaison between Campus Security Services and the UVic community. They can be contacted at psc@uvic.ca or 721-8981.

For more information, visit the Campus Security Website.

Housing & Transportation

Where will my student live?

As a parent of a newly admitted UVic student, you probably want to know where your student will be living. There are several possible options.

• On-campus housing:

  Many students decide to live on-campus in residence housing. This is a great choice – it’s an easy way for your student to meet peers outside their academic program, and it’s also convenient! Students who live on campus live about a ten-minute walk from any of the academic buildings – not bad for a morning commute!

  First-year students who enter UVic directly from high school are guaranteed a spot in UVic’s residence housing, as long as they apply for housing and submit their application fee before June 30. Applications for the following academic year can be found online as of September 15.

• Off-campus housing:

  Some students prefer to live off-campus and commute to UVic for classes. These students can visit UVic’s off-campus housing registry, which lists local apartments, houses, and suites that are available to rent. This is traditionally a popular option for students who already live in Victoria, although local students are also encouraged to try living on campus.

How will my student get around?

It’s a good idea to figure out how your student plans to get around the city. Victoria has an excellent bus system and students receive low-cost bus pass that allows them to ride any city bus.

Many students bring a car to campus and use their vehicle as their main mode of transportation. Your student can buy a parking pass that will allow them to park in many of the campus parking lots. Parking is available for all students, and rates vary.

Residence Life

Living on campus means more than being close to classes – it also means access to a built-in support system with the Residence Life staff. Living on campus is a great option for students who come from outside Victoria – it’s an easy way to connect with other students who are also new to the city.

Athletics & Clubs

University life is about more than academics – many students join clubs, sign up to play on an intramural sports team, or play for UVic’s varsity teams.

Getting involved in an on-campus activity is a great way to connect with other students outside your academic area. From varsity rowing to belly dancing, to gumboot dancing and the photography club, UVic offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.

If you think your student might be interested in athletics or recreation, visit the Vikes homepage to learn more.

Facilities

UVic also provides student access to athletic facilities, including tennis and squash courts, an 18,000-square-foot, full-equipped fitness and weight centre, gymnasiums, dance studios, jogging trails, an all-weather running track, and the Elk Lake Rowing Centre.

Students can also sign up for on-campus athletics classes, or arrange to rent recreation equipment through Vikes Recreation .

There are hundreds of ways to enjoy life on campus!

Finances

Once your student has been accepted to UVic, it’s a good idea to start thinking about how they’ll be paying for their education.

Planning ahead is always a good idea – encourage your student to investigate their funding options early. Here are a few key links to financial information:

Tuition

Current tuition fee information will help students determine how much their education will cost. If you have questions about tuition and fees, check out this list of frequently asked questions.

Overall Costs

The Office of the Registrar and Enrolment Services also provides an approximate break-down of annual costs, which includes tuition as well as other expected living costs. This is a great source for students planning out their budget. This list also links to useful resources to help students manage their costs.

Scholarships, Bursaries and Financial Aid

There are many ways to help your student finance his or her education. The UVic Student Awards & Financial Aid Office provides information about scholarships, bursaries, the UVic Work Study Program and general loan and grant information.

Aboriginal Students

The University of Victoria welcomes applications from Aboriginal, First Nations, Metis, Inuit and Non-Status Aboriginal peoples of Canada. We acknowledge with respect the history, customs, and culture of the Coast Salish and Straits Salish peoples on whose traditional lands the university resides.

As the parent of an Aboriginal or Indigenous student, it’s helpful to be familiar with the main points of the application process. In addition to the information provided below, you can also download the Indigenous Student Handbook (PDF), which includes faculty and student profiles, Aboriginal student services, and a list of courses and programs with first nations content.

Application to UVic

All students may apply online using UVic’s handy Step-by-step admission checklist.

Voluntary Declaration

The categories of an Aboriginal person are designed to be inclusive of all Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

When applying to UVic programs, it is to your student's advantage to indicate that he or she is an Aboriginal student in order to receive relevant information. At no time will documentation of Aboriginal ancestry be required.

The Aboriginal Liaison Office and other Aboriginal faculty advisors and coordinators receive information on all self-identified applicants in order to make initial contact with the applicants to relay pertinent and ongoing information. The voluntary declaration will NOT be used for admissions decisions. Some programs do have a specific application process for Aboriginal applicants (e.g., Law, Education, etc.). For more information, contact the individual program advisors.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit special category applicants (includes non-status Aboriginal applicants)

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Special Category is designed for all Aboriginal peoples of Canada who may not qualify under the general categories of admission. Reasons for denial of admission might include a less competitive Grade Point Average to qualify for admission or the lack of a required grade 11 or 12 subject.

The Senate Committee on Admission, Reregistration and Transfer (SCART) assesses the applicant’s ability to succeed at university based on educational history, non-educational achievements, application, letters of reference, and personal letter outlining academic objectives. This application form is available online at under Special Access for Aboriginal applicants.

For more admissions information, contact Admissions Services at (250) 721-8121 or email adms@uvic.ca.

Finances

All students are encouraged to apply for student scholarships, bursaries, and loans. For more information about costs and methods of payment, visit the Student Awards and Financial Aid website.

All students have the option of applying for a student loan, including those who are fully funded by an Aboriginal organization. Student loan applications are usually available in April to May of each year and students should apply early.

Residents of British Columbia will apply to the British Columbia Student Assistance Program (BCSAP).

Students who have documented financial need may be eligible to apply to the Work Study program, and should admit an application for assessment to Student Awards and Financial Aid beginning in July.

International Students

The University of Victoria welcomes students from around the world – almost 9 percent of our students are international.

As the parent of an international student, it’s helpful to be familiar with the services and opportunities available for your student at UVic.

Visit our international applicants page for information about medical insurance coverage, authorization to study in canada, and more.

Admission

The application process is the same for international and domestic students, but admission requirements are different.

UVic provides an online list of American and international admission requirements.

International Baccalaureate and College Board Advanced Placement
International students who have completed IB or AP may qualify for transfer credit or early admission. Read more about this by visiting our IB/AP page.

Undergraduate English Requirement

All undergraduate students, including international students, must satisfy UVic’s English language requirements. If your student’s first language is not English, he or she must submit proof of English proficiency.

Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

For information about the costs of attending UVic, please visit our page on international student resources. You’ll find a convenient overview of Scholarships, Loan and Work Study Options.

You can also access an estimate of international student fees, provided in US and Canadian dollars.

International Baccalaureate (IB) & Advanced Placement (AP)

UVic supports outstanding students, and there is plenty of information about the application process for International Baccalaureate (IB) students, and College Board Advanced Placement (AP) students.

All Student Services

UVic offers students a diverse and welcoming network of support systems - it’s part of our commitment to students' well-being. In addition to this comprehensive list of services, there are a wide range of athletics and clubs-based extracurricular activities, as well as support systems specifically geared towards students with a disability, and students who would like counselling, academic advising, career planning and more.

There are also specific services for both International and Aboriginal students, as listed below.

Services for Aboriginal Students

Overview of Services
Indigenous students have access to a variety of student services, as well as the Office of Indigenous Affairs, the Native Student Union and the Aboriginal Counseling Center.

Students can also hang out at the Aboriginal Student Gathering Space (located in the LE,NONET Project office in the Human and Social Development Building) to study, hold circles, or browse through the Aboriginal reading resources. For a complete list of services and other opportunities for Indigenous students, download our Indigenous Student Handbook.

LE,NONET project
UVic’s LE,NONET project strives to advance the experience of Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit, Metis and Non-Status students attending UVic. New students are encouraged to contact the LE,NONET staff as soon as possible to learn more about the support systems that are available.

Indigenous Student Recruiter
For additional information, please contact Michele Noullet Morfitt, UVic’s Indigenous Recruitment-Admission Liaison. She can be reached by phone at 250-472-5569 or noullet@uvic.ca.

Services for International Students

International students are encouraged to contact the International and Exchange Services Office, which strives to make each student’s stay at UVic as rewarding as possible.

Academic Programs

Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching, and community involvement, UVic provides innovative programs, real-life experiences in a diverse and welcoming environment.

As one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities, we offer opportunities in more than 40 academic areas.

UVic stands out for its approach to learning, tying it directly to real-life work through the third largest co-operative education program in Canada. The university arranges almost 3,000 Co-op placements each year. The program is available in most academic areas on campus.

Admission & Registration

Applying to university can seem overwhelming for high school students, so UVic provides an easy-to-follow, step-by-step admission guide.

Self-Reporting

Canadian students may want to take advantage of UVic’s Self-Reporting Grades initiative. Students can apply in the fall of their Grade 12 year by self-reporting their Grade 11 marks!

After admission

Once students have submitted an application, they will be assigned a student number. This number will help them track their application status – they can visit UVic’s MyStatus, enter the same login information from the online application process (or use the student number and birthday in DDMMYY format for paper application submissions), and select ‘Processed Applications.’

Registration